{"id":37660,"date":"2026-08-11T01:55:16","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T20:55:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=37660"},"modified":"2026-08-11T01:55:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T20:55:16","slug":"david-hearn-says-reflecting-pool-case-isnt-over-npr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=37660","title":{"rendered":"David Hearn says Reflecting Pool case isn&#8217;t over : NPR"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"storytext\">\n<div id=\"resg-s1-138104\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"&#10;        --source-width: 8256;&#10;        --source-height: 5504;&#10;    \">\n        <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc0%2Ff2%2F2d3cd31347479d7721e24a7d3ea2%2Fap26190527578524-1.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc0%2Ff2%2F2d3cd31347479d7721e24a7d3ea2%2Fap26190527578524-1.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc0%2Ff2%2F2d3cd31347479d7721e24a7d3ea2%2Fap26190527578524-1.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc0%2Ff2%2F2d3cd31347479d7721e24a7d3ea2%2Fap26190527578524-1.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc0%2Ff2%2F2d3cd31347479d7721e24a7d3ea2%2Fap26190527578524-1.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc0%2Ff2%2F2d3cd31347479d7721e24a7d3ea2%2Fap26190527578524-1.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc0%2Ff2%2F2d3cd31347479d7721e24a7d3ea2%2Fap26190527578524-1.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc0%2Ff2%2F2d3cd31347479d7721e24a7d3ea2%2Fap26190527578524-1.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc0%2Ff2%2F2d3cd31347479d7721e24a7d3ea2%2Fap26190527578524-1.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc0%2Ff2%2F2d3cd31347479d7721e24a7d3ea2%2Fap26190527578524-1.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc0%2Ff2%2F2d3cd31347479d7721e24a7d3ea2%2Fap26190527578524-1.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc0%2Ff2%2F2d3cd31347479d7721e24a7d3ea2%2Fap26190527578524-1.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc0%2Ff2%2F2d3cd31347479d7721e24a7d3ea2%2Fap26190527578524-1.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc0%2Ff2%2F2d3cd31347479d7721e24a7d3ea2%2Fap26190527578524-1.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc0%2Ff2%2F2d3cd31347479d7721e24a7d3ea2%2Fap26190527578524-1.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc0%2Ff2%2F2d3cd31347479d7721e24a7d3ea2%2Fap26190527578524-1.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc0%2Ff2%2F2d3cd31347479d7721e24a7d3ea2%2Fap26190527578524-1.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc0%2Ff2%2F2d3cd31347479d7721e24a7d3ea2%2Fap26190527578524-1.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"David Hearn (second from left) and his attorney Norman Eisen (right) addressed reporters after he entered his not guilty plea on July 9 in Washington, D.C.  \" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                David Hearn (second from left) and his attorney Norman Eisen (right) addressed reporters after he entered his not guilty plea on July 9 in Washington, D.C.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>                    Rod Lamkey\/AP<\/p>\n<p>                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><br \/>\n              <svg class=\"icon icon--info\"><use href=\"#icon-info\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n              <b>toggle caption<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>        Rod Lamkey\/AP<\/p>\n<p>    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>A judge agreed to drop the federal government&#8217;s vandalism case against former U.S. Olympian David &#8220;Davey&#8221; Hearn <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/08\/03\/nx-s1-5918001\/reflecting-pool-vandalism-charges-dropped\" target=\"_blank\">and three others<\/a> last week, after months of accusing them of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.<\/p>\n<p>But Hearn&#8217;s legal fight isn&#8217;t over yet: Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman has yet to weigh in on whether it could potentially be reopened later.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We feel strongly this case should be dismissed for once and for all,&#8221; Hearn&#8217;s lawyer, Norm Eisen, told NPR&#8217;s <em>All Things Considered<\/em> on Monday. &#8220;Davey is an innocent man. He shouldn&#8217;t have to go through this a second time.&#8221;<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-backstage-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap backstage\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5925117-100\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5918001\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/08\/03\/nx-s1-5918001\/reflecting-pool-vandalism-charges-dropped\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;recirculation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;story_recirculation_click&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;inset box&quot;,&quot;clickUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.npr.org\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/03\\\/nx-s1-5918001\\\/reflecting-pool-vandalism-charges-dropped&quot;}\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5434x5434+1400+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F45%2Fe8%2F523b626a48a5bd6a5a7a524f65aa%2Fgettyimages-2287196266.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5434x5434+1400+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F45%2Fe8%2F523b626a48a5bd6a5a7a524f65aa%2Fgettyimages-2287196266.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5434x5434+1400+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F45%2Fe8%2F523b626a48a5bd6a5a7a524f65aa%2Fgettyimages-2287196266.jpg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5434x5434+1400+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F45%2Fe8%2F523b626a48a5bd6a5a7a524f65aa%2Fgettyimages-2287196266.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5434x5434+1400+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F45%2Fe8%2F523b626a48a5bd6a5a7a524f65aa%2Fgettyimages-2287196266.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5434x5434+1400+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F45%2Fe8%2F523b626a48a5bd6a5a7a524f65aa%2Fgettyimages-2287196266.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5434x5434+1400+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F45%2Fe8%2F523b626a48a5bd6a5a7a524f65aa%2Fgettyimages-2287196266.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5434x5434+1400+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F45%2Fe8%2F523b626a48a5bd6a5a7a524f65aa%2Fgettyimages-2287196266.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"The repainted Reflecting Pool, pictured in late July, was drained a second time after the Fourth of July fireworks.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/a>         <\/p>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5925117-100\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors have sought the dismissal of the case &#8220;without prejudice,&#8221; allowing them to potentially refile in the future. Hearn&#8217;s lawyers are asking the judge to dismiss his felony charge &#8220;with prejudice,&#8221; to close the case for good.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;From day one, the case against Mr. Hearn was motivated by political considerations and devoid of adequate factual support,&#8221; his lawyers wrote in a <a href=\"https:\/\/eaccess.dccourts.gov\/eaccess\/search.page.3.1?x=PN6UzitbeAKPqsh3zV*TOZsBP40I7hWfF2Y8tHzZBL-*xWEF1npasAJW2GR1k8NAXo3OJ-Ghv1rwhL5sMh8375lV75KAXR-tQDM17Ie1yFWJvRMYd2-Hb3JJ7JlBdPjn2fyVberDBj6AFB7zBbh60xLo8V2Fv8WpkEnvqAfR9MA\" target=\"_blank\">28-page motion<\/a> filed last week. &#8220;Those political pressures have not dissipated in the mere four weeks since the government saw fit to obtain the indictment.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>In the days since federal prosecutors moved to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/31\/nx-s1-5915828\/reflecting-pool-david-hearn-dismiss\" target=\"_blank\">have Hearn&#8217;s case dismissed<\/a>, President Trump has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/transcripts\/nx-s1-5918001\" target=\"_blank\">railed against<\/a> Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, accusing her of &#8220;folding like an umbrella.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>And he has repeated his claims that vandals damaged the lining of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, contradicting evidence from Pirro&#8217;s 20-page legal filing that blamed the peeling lining on &#8220;botched installation.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;A National Park Service career employee, a highly credible witness, saw David Hearn (ActBlue) in broad daylight vandalize the Reflecting Pool by &#8216;violently&#8217; ripping and tugging at the Pool&#8217;s somewhat delicate coating,&#8221; Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/117067837821298859\" target=\"_blank\">posted Sunday<\/a> on Truth Social, wading back into the pool discourse even as he acknowledged &#8220;there was also some contractor error.&#8221;<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-secondary-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap secondary\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<aside id=\"mid-story-recommendations-mount-piano\" class=\"mid-story-recommendations-mount-piano\" aria-label=\"recommended stories\"\/>\n<!-- END ID=\"MID-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT-PIANO\" CLASS=\"MID-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT-PIANO\" ARIA-LABEL=\"RECOMMENDED STORIES\" --><\/p>\n<p>Speaking to NPR on Monday, Hearn described his ordeal as &#8220;Kafkaesque&#8221; and &#8220;Orwellian.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5925117-101\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5897383\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/22\/nx-s1-5897383\/dc-reflecting-pool-saga-influencers\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;recirculation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;story_recirculation_click&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;inset box&quot;,&quot;clickUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.npr.org\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/22\\\/nx-s1-5897383\\\/dc-reflecting-pool-saga-influencers&quot;}\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1463x1463+343+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F41%2Fd6%2F944f38d34613af956e8137826c7d%2Freflecting-pool2.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1463x1463+343+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F41%2Fd6%2F944f38d34613af956e8137826c7d%2Freflecting-pool2.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1463x1463+343+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F41%2Fd6%2F944f38d34613af956e8137826c7d%2Freflecting-pool2.jpg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1463x1463+343+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F41%2Fd6%2F944f38d34613af956e8137826c7d%2Freflecting-pool2.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1463x1463+343+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F41%2Fd6%2F944f38d34613af956e8137826c7d%2Freflecting-pool2.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1463x1463+343+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F41%2Fd6%2F944f38d34613af956e8137826c7d%2Freflecting-pool2.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1463x1463+343+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F41%2Fd6%2F944f38d34613af956e8137826c7d%2Freflecting-pool2.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1463x1463+343+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F41%2Fd6%2F944f38d34613af956e8137826c7d%2Freflecting-pool2.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"An illustration superimposing images of a protester, a detainee, a pool vacuum and the presidential motorcade in the vicinity of the reflecting pool. \" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/a>         <\/p>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5925117-101\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>The experience has taken a toll on the 67-year-old, in terms of added stress and lost sleep. But it&#8217;s also changed the way he sees the country that he represented in three Olympic Games, as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teamusa.com\/profiles\/david-hearn\" target=\"_blank\">canoe slalom athlete<\/a> in 1992, 1996 and 2000.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;My confidence is being tested for sure here, in what our nation can withstand,&#8221; Hearn said. &#8220;But I don&#8217;t think people are taking this lying down.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Hearn said he&#8217;s buoyed by the support he&#8217;s gotten from his lawyers, family and community, which includes &#8220;paddling buddies,&#8221; &#8220;biking buddies&#8221; and &#8220;music and dance friends.&#8221; His case has become a cause c\u00e9l\u00e8bre for people far beyond D.C., as the embattled reflecting pool has become a symbolic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/22\/nx-s1-5897383\/dc-reflecting-pool-saga-influencers\" target=\"_blank\">referendum on the Trump administration<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I think that that has really gripped the imagination and the sympathy of the nation,&#8221; Eisen said. &#8220;If it can happen to Davey, it could happen to you or me or anyone.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"resg-s1-138105\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"&#10;        --source-width: 8256;&#10;        --source-height: 5504;&#10;    \">\n        <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdb%2F63%2Fadd6ff5e4b72b26d3f3e4c0a5dfd%2Fap26190529917016.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdb%2F63%2Fadd6ff5e4b72b26d3f3e4c0a5dfd%2Fap26190529917016.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdb%2F63%2Fadd6ff5e4b72b26d3f3e4c0a5dfd%2Fap26190529917016.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdb%2F63%2Fadd6ff5e4b72b26d3f3e4c0a5dfd%2Fap26190529917016.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdb%2F63%2Fadd6ff5e4b72b26d3f3e4c0a5dfd%2Fap26190529917016.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdb%2F63%2Fadd6ff5e4b72b26d3f3e4c0a5dfd%2Fap26190529917016.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdb%2F63%2Fadd6ff5e4b72b26d3f3e4c0a5dfd%2Fap26190529917016.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdb%2F63%2Fadd6ff5e4b72b26d3f3e4c0a5dfd%2Fap26190529917016.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdb%2F63%2Fadd6ff5e4b72b26d3f3e4c0a5dfd%2Fap26190529917016.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdb%2F63%2Fadd6ff5e4b72b26d3f3e4c0a5dfd%2Fap26190529917016.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdb%2F63%2Fadd6ff5e4b72b26d3f3e4c0a5dfd%2Fap26190529917016.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdb%2F63%2Fadd6ff5e4b72b26d3f3e4c0a5dfd%2Fap26190529917016.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdb%2F63%2Fadd6ff5e4b72b26d3f3e4c0a5dfd%2Fap26190529917016.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdb%2F63%2Fadd6ff5e4b72b26d3f3e4c0a5dfd%2Fap26190529917016.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdb%2F63%2Fadd6ff5e4b72b26d3f3e4c0a5dfd%2Fap26190529917016.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdb%2F63%2Fadd6ff5e4b72b26d3f3e4c0a5dfd%2Fap26190529917016.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdb%2F63%2Fadd6ff5e4b72b26d3f3e4c0a5dfd%2Fap26190529917016.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x5504+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdb%2F63%2Fadd6ff5e4b72b26d3f3e4c0a5dfd%2Fap26190529917016.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"Supporters have rallied around Hearn in D.C. and beyond, as the reflecting pool saga became a national story.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                Supporters have rallied around Hearn in D.C. and beyond, as the reflecting pool saga became a national story.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>                    Rod Lamkey\/AP<\/p>\n<p>                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><br \/>\n              <svg class=\"icon icon--info\"><use href=\"#icon-info\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n              <b>toggle caption<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>        Rod Lamkey\/AP<\/p>\n<p>    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"edTag\">Hearn says he had a &#8216;scientific curiosity&#8217; in the reflecting pool renovation<\/h3>\n<p>For Hearn, the fight isn&#8217;t just about his future, but that of U.S. democracy.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I feel like I&#8217;ve been practicing democracy my whole life,&#8221; he said. &#8220;And being down at the reflecting pool on Juneteenth was part of that for me.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5925117-102\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5863044\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/06\/19\/nx-s1-5863044\/dc-reflecting-pool-algae-green-trump\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;recirculation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;story_recirculation_click&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;inset box&quot;,&quot;clickUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.npr.org\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/19\\\/nx-s1-5863044\\\/dc-reflecting-pool-algae-green-trump&quot;}\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3124x3124+729+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F77%2F3b%2F1edb279a4acbb8bdb673bcc264d0%2Fgettyimages-2281919207.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3124x3124+729+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F77%2F3b%2F1edb279a4acbb8bdb673bcc264d0%2Fgettyimages-2281919207.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3124x3124+729+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F77%2F3b%2F1edb279a4acbb8bdb673bcc264d0%2Fgettyimages-2281919207.jpg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3124x3124+729+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F77%2F3b%2F1edb279a4acbb8bdb673bcc264d0%2Fgettyimages-2281919207.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3124x3124+729+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F77%2F3b%2F1edb279a4acbb8bdb673bcc264d0%2Fgettyimages-2281919207.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3124x3124+729+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F77%2F3b%2F1edb279a4acbb8bdb673bcc264d0%2Fgettyimages-2281919207.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3124x3124+729+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F77%2F3b%2F1edb279a4acbb8bdb673bcc264d0%2Fgettyimages-2281919207.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3124x3124+729+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F77%2F3b%2F1edb279a4acbb8bdb673bcc264d0%2Fgettyimages-2281919207.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"Workers are shown with long poles dipping into the water of the Reflecting Pool. The water is in the foreground of the photo, and it is a deep green color. The Lincoln Memorial is seen in the distance. \" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/a>         <\/p>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5925117-102\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>The lifelong Maryland resident was on a group bike ride through the National Mall on June 19 when he stopped to look at the recently repainted Reflecting Pool.<\/p>\n<p>He said he had heard reports about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/06\/19\/nx-s1-5863044\/dc-reflecting-pool-algae-green-trump\" target=\"_blank\">algae turning the water green<\/a> and pieces of the new &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/06\/05\/nx-s1-5847818\/reflecting-pool-repaint-refill\" target=\"_blank\">American flag blue<\/a>&#8221; lining peeling off. The pool recently had been refilled; Pirro&#8217;s July filing cites Department of the Interior records indicating that personnel first flagged issues with the lining as early as June 11.<\/p>\n<p>Hearn said he was interested in the controversial renovation project in part because of his longtime waterproofing business.<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-third-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap third\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s a real sort of an engineering, scientific curiosity for me about what was going on,&#8221; he explained.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resg-s1-138106\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"&#10;        --source-width: 5480;&#10;        --source-height: 3653;&#10;    \">\n        <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5480x3653+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcf%2Fce%2Fa094b59a4f55abac7114dc6e45ce%2Fap26173605666918.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5480x3653+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcf%2Fce%2Fa094b59a4f55abac7114dc6e45ce%2Fap26173605666918.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5480x3653+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcf%2Fce%2Fa094b59a4f55abac7114dc6e45ce%2Fap26173605666918.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5480x3653+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcf%2Fce%2Fa094b59a4f55abac7114dc6e45ce%2Fap26173605666918.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5480x3653+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcf%2Fce%2Fa094b59a4f55abac7114dc6e45ce%2Fap26173605666918.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5480x3653+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcf%2Fce%2Fa094b59a4f55abac7114dc6e45ce%2Fap26173605666918.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5480x3653+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcf%2Fce%2Fa094b59a4f55abac7114dc6e45ce%2Fap26173605666918.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5480x3653+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcf%2Fce%2Fa094b59a4f55abac7114dc6e45ce%2Fap26173605666918.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5480x3653+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcf%2Fce%2Fa094b59a4f55abac7114dc6e45ce%2Fap26173605666918.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5480x3653+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcf%2Fce%2Fa094b59a4f55abac7114dc6e45ce%2Fap26173605666918.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5480x3653+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcf%2Fce%2Fa094b59a4f55abac7114dc6e45ce%2Fap26173605666918.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5480x3653+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcf%2Fce%2Fa094b59a4f55abac7114dc6e45ce%2Fap26173605666918.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5480x3653+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcf%2Fce%2Fa094b59a4f55abac7114dc6e45ce%2Fap26173605666918.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5480x3653+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcf%2Fce%2Fa094b59a4f55abac7114dc6e45ce%2Fap26173605666918.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5480x3653+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcf%2Fce%2Fa094b59a4f55abac7114dc6e45ce%2Fap26173605666918.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5480x3653+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcf%2Fce%2Fa094b59a4f55abac7114dc6e45ce%2Fap26173605666918.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5480x3653+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcf%2Fce%2Fa094b59a4f55abac7114dc6e45ce%2Fap26173605666918.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5480x3653+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcf%2Fce%2Fa094b59a4f55abac7114dc6e45ce%2Fap26173605666918.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"An example of peeling paint as seen on June 22.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                An example of peeling paint as seen on June 22.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>                    Mark Schiefelbein\/AP<\/p>\n<p>                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><br \/>\n              <svg class=\"icon icon--info\"><use href=\"#icon-info\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n              <b>toggle caption<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>        Mark Schiefelbein\/AP<\/p>\n<p>    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Hearn maintains that he dipped a hand into the pool and plucked out one of the floating paint pieces. He was promptly arrested and charged with destroying government property.<\/p>\n<p>Hearn has consistently denied the allegations, which he said sting especially because of his deep-seated respect for national parks. He has been a National Park Service volunteer for the Chesapeake &amp; Ohio Canal National Historical Park, which runs from D.C. to Maryland, for 20 years. His own father was a field geologist in Northern California and Montana.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5925117-103\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5887308\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/09\/nx-s1-5887308\/reflecting-pool-vandalism-charges-plea-olympian-canoeist-david-hearn\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;recirculation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;story_recirculation_click&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;inset box&quot;,&quot;clickUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.npr.org\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/09\\\/nx-s1-5887308\\\/reflecting-pool-vandalism-charges-plea-olympian-canoeist-david-hearn&quot;}\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2000x2000+453+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6a%2Ffc%2F6bd9b96a412c924b7a0fba983f80%2Fgettyimages-2285355795.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2000x2000+453+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6a%2Ffc%2F6bd9b96a412c924b7a0fba983f80%2Fgettyimages-2285355795.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2000x2000+453+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6a%2Ffc%2F6bd9b96a412c924b7a0fba983f80%2Fgettyimages-2285355795.jpg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2000x2000+453+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6a%2Ffc%2F6bd9b96a412c924b7a0fba983f80%2Fgettyimages-2285355795.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2000x2000+453+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6a%2Ffc%2F6bd9b96a412c924b7a0fba983f80%2Fgettyimages-2285355795.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2000x2000+453+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6a%2Ffc%2F6bd9b96a412c924b7a0fba983f80%2Fgettyimages-2285355795.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2000x2000+453+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6a%2Ffc%2F6bd9b96a412c924b7a0fba983f80%2Fgettyimages-2285355795.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2000x2000+453+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6a%2Ffc%2F6bd9b96a412c924b7a0fba983f80%2Fgettyimages-2285355795.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"Former U.S. Olympian David Hearn (left) walks with his attorney Norman Eisen to speak to reporters and protesters gathered after his arraignment at the Superior Court of the District of Columbia in Washington, D.C. on Thursday.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/a>         <\/p>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5925117-103\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re supposed to leave nothing but footprints. That&#8217;s all ingrained into my psyche from a very young age,&#8221; Hearn said. &#8220;So to be accused of damaging a national monument like this is completely outrageous for me.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>A grand jury <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/03\/nx-s1-5879451\/ex-olympian-charged-over-alleged-reflecting-pool-damage\" target=\"_blank\">indicted Hearn<\/a> on a single felony count of destruction of property worth $1,000 or more on July 2. He <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/09\/nx-s1-5887308\/reflecting-pool-vandalism-charges-plea-olympian-canoeist-david-hearn\" target=\"_blank\">pleaded not guilty<\/a> a week later, exiting the D.C. courthouse to a sea of sign-wielding supporters chanting &#8220;Davey! Davey!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Hearn was facing a late September trial date, and the possibility of up to 10 years in prison if convicted, before prosecutors <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/31\/nx-s1-5915828\/reflecting-pool-david-hearn-dismiss\" target=\"_blank\">moved to have his case dismissed<\/a> on July 31.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"edTag\">What&#8217;s next in the legal fight\u00a0<\/h3>\n<div id=\"resg-s1-138107\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"&#10;        --source-width: 5092;&#10;        --source-height: 3395;&#10;    \">\n        <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5092x3395+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2Fd1%2Ff611771e4f28a1562c1b38e582d6%2Fgettyimages-2289313511.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5092x3395+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2Fd1%2Ff611771e4f28a1562c1b38e582d6%2Fgettyimages-2289313511.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5092x3395+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2Fd1%2Ff611771e4f28a1562c1b38e582d6%2Fgettyimages-2289313511.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5092x3395+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2Fd1%2Ff611771e4f28a1562c1b38e582d6%2Fgettyimages-2289313511.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5092x3395+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2Fd1%2Ff611771e4f28a1562c1b38e582d6%2Fgettyimages-2289313511.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5092x3395+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2Fd1%2Ff611771e4f28a1562c1b38e582d6%2Fgettyimages-2289313511.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5092x3395+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2Fd1%2Ff611771e4f28a1562c1b38e582d6%2Fgettyimages-2289313511.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5092x3395+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2Fd1%2Ff611771e4f28a1562c1b38e582d6%2Fgettyimages-2289313511.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5092x3395+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2Fd1%2Ff611771e4f28a1562c1b38e582d6%2Fgettyimages-2289313511.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5092x3395+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2Fd1%2Ff611771e4f28a1562c1b38e582d6%2Fgettyimages-2289313511.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5092x3395+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2Fd1%2Ff611771e4f28a1562c1b38e582d6%2Fgettyimages-2289313511.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5092x3395+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2Fd1%2Ff611771e4f28a1562c1b38e582d6%2Fgettyimages-2289313511.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5092x3395+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2Fd1%2Ff611771e4f28a1562c1b38e582d6%2Fgettyimages-2289313511.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5092x3395+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2Fd1%2Ff611771e4f28a1562c1b38e582d6%2Fgettyimages-2289313511.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5092x3395+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2Fd1%2Ff611771e4f28a1562c1b38e582d6%2Fgettyimages-2289313511.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5092x3395+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2Fd1%2Ff611771e4f28a1562c1b38e582d6%2Fgettyimages-2289313511.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5092x3395+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2Fd1%2Ff611771e4f28a1562c1b38e582d6%2Fgettyimages-2289313511.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5092x3395+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F36%2Fd1%2Ff611771e4f28a1562c1b38e582d6%2Fgettyimages-2289313511.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"The reflecting pool, seen on Monday, is being partially refilled to flush water supply pipes, according to the National Park Service.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                The reflecting pool, seen on Monday, is being partially refilled to flush water supply pipes, according to the National Park Service.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>                    Andrew Harnik\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><br \/>\n              <svg class=\"icon icon--info\"><use href=\"#icon-info\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n              <b>toggle caption<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>        Andrew Harnik\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The U.S. Attorney&#8217;s Office for the District of Columbia cited Department of the Interior records that showed damage to the reflecting pool was &#8220;the result of botched installation and not vandalism.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It is difficult to attribute the widespread damage to the Reflecting Pool to vandalism, let alone to establish that fact beyond a reasonable doubt,&#8221; Pirro wrote.<\/p>\n<p>But just weeks earlier, Pirro \u2014 a Trump appointee \u2014 had announced at a press conference that &#8220;the evidence shows \u2026 that Hearn willfully destroyed property at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.&#8221;<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-overflow-1-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap overflow-1\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>In an about-face, her filing blamed the Department of the Interior for withholding evidence that proved otherwise.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5925117-104\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5915828\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/31\/nx-s1-5915828\/reflecting-pool-david-hearn-dismiss\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;recirculation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;story_recirculation_click&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;inset box&quot;,&quot;clickUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.npr.org\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/31\\\/nx-s1-5915828\\\/reflecting-pool-david-hearn-dismiss&quot;}\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x4000+1000+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa6%2Fea%2Fdbd5ddee41199550eee86004e45b%2Fgettyimages-2285355780.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x4000+1000+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa6%2Fea%2Fdbd5ddee41199550eee86004e45b%2Fgettyimages-2285355780.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x4000+1000+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa6%2Fea%2Fdbd5ddee41199550eee86004e45b%2Fgettyimages-2285355780.jpg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x4000+1000+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa6%2Fea%2Fdbd5ddee41199550eee86004e45b%2Fgettyimages-2285355780.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x4000+1000+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa6%2Fea%2Fdbd5ddee41199550eee86004e45b%2Fgettyimages-2285355780.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x4000+1000+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa6%2Fea%2Fdbd5ddee41199550eee86004e45b%2Fgettyimages-2285355780.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x4000+1000+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa6%2Fea%2Fdbd5ddee41199550eee86004e45b%2Fgettyimages-2285355780.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/4000x4000+1000+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa6%2Fea%2Fdbd5ddee41199550eee86004e45b%2Fgettyimages-2285355780.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"Former Olympian David Hearn stands with his attorney Norman Eisen as he speaks to reporters and protestors gathered after his arraignment at Moultrie Courthouse on July 09, 2026 in Washington, D.C.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/a>         <\/p>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5925117-104\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>But Eisen said Hearn&#8217;s legal time has filed &#8220;motion after motion proving that the reflecting pool was the same before and after [he] touched it.&#8221; He said they entered photographic proof as soon as the day after his first court appearance.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The Department of Justice finally came to their senses and dismissed the case,&#8221; Eisen said. &#8220;But the justification that they gave \u2014 that they didn&#8217;t figure it out until the Department of the Interior told them \u2014 that does not hold water.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Hearn&#8217;s lawyers want his case dismissed without prejudice, citing the &#8220;risk of harassment and bad faith.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>If not, they are asking the judge to review and potentially disclose materials from the grand jury proceedings against Hearn.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The grand-jury record bears further on the question now before the Court: whether the government obtained Mr. Hearn&#8217;s felony indictment in a manner warranting dismissal with prejudice, that is, through a rushed and misleading presentation that disregarded the absence of evidence supporting any case against Mr. Hearn,&#8221; they wrote.<\/p>\n<p>Eisen said they are reviewing &#8220;all legal remedies.&#8221; Hearn has a status hearing scheduled for September on the dismissal question, and is feeling optimistic.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;With the power of the law, the power of the courts, the judges and my wonderful team \u2026 I feel very well-equipped to contest this, to bring democracy back to me,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>David Hearn (second from left) and his attorney Norman Eisen (right) addressed reporters after he entered his not guilty plea on July 9 in Washington, D.C. Rod Lamkey\/AP hide caption toggle caption Rod Lamkey\/AP A judge agreed to drop the federal government&#8217;s vandalism case against former U.S. Olympian David &#8220;Davey&#8221; Hearn and three others last&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":37661,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/8256x4644+0+17\/resize\/1400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc0%2Ff2%2F2d3cd31347479d7721e24a7d3ea2%2Fap26190527578524-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-37660","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-political-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37660","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=37660"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37660\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/37661"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=37660"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=37660"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=37660"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}